I’m planning on writing more about my trip later, but I wanted to share this short video that I put together with the help of my Cuban friends, Frank Batista and Yamil Domínguez. The video focuses on the Gospel Coach training that we are partnering with them on. By the way, Havana is spelled with a b instead of a v in Cuba.

Yesterday Dawn and I went to a luncheon in Encinitas at Redeemer Church to promote missions with Mission to the World (MTW). It was a wonderful event as we heard from MTW’s coordinator, Dr. Lloyd Kim and Mobilization director, Dave Veldhorst.

They spoke about the vision of seeing 2,877 new missionaries join the mission force through MTW. That’s an exciting and a big goal for our mission. One of the ways we aim to do that is by forming regional hubs in places like San Diego, Dallas and St. Louis to train and prepare potential missionary candidates.

This vision is still coming together, so we need much prayer. One blazing truth that remains is that Jesus needs men and women to serve him in missions. He needs people who are willing to go and serve.

Christ asked his disciples to pray for more workers.

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers in his harvest.” (Luke 10:2,3) ESV

Here’s a helpful short video that MTW put together that challenges us to think and pray about sending more people into the world.

Dawn and I have been praying since before we arrived on the border for more workers. Please join us in prayer that God will raise up many more laborers to go out into the harvest field, and that some of them would join us in our work in Mexico.

On Wednesday, October 26th we mourned Hannah’s loss and celebrated her life at the graveside service and the funeral service. One of Hannah’s close friends, Marissa Irakoze posted the following on Instagram,

Before this week, I never knew that joy and grief could be in the same place. Hannah, your service yesterday was incredible. You would have LOVED it. You lived such a beautiful life, it was an honor to have known you. See you soon, friend ❤️

The service was Christ centered celebration of life. While the service was a time to grieve, yet also a time to rejoice. We grieved that she is gone, and we don’t get to enjoy her presence anymore on this side of heaven. We rejoiced in the victory that Christ secured for us over death on the cross. We have victory through his death and resurrection. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!!!

The House of Mourning is Better

Another close family friend, Heidi Griffith shared a wonderful verse in Ecclesiastes that the Lord used to minister to Heidi when her mother passed away. We found it touched us as well, and I feel it’s a passage we will be chewing on and thinking through for a long time.

“It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.”

Ecclesiastes 7:2 ESV

It’s hard to understand how it can be better to mourn than to feast, but there it is. We are finding that the Lord is meeting us in a deep and profound way through the pain that we are enduring. God is present in this trial. He has not abandoned us. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Hannah with her brothers, Jonathan & David

Hannah’s brothers, David and Jonathan put in over 24 hours creating a beautiful slide show. They chose two songs from Rachel Platten that Hannah loved, and that carry a deep significance. The boys shared during the service that the first song, Better Place, speaks of how Hannah made the world a better place from the moment that she entered this world to the moment that the Lord took her home. Several Friends shared that Hannah would not waste any time to show her love and would make you feel special the very first time you met her. The boys also shared that, Hannah touched many lives on this world and we are confident that her Impact and testimony will outlive her by continuing to bring those still on earth to a relationship with Christ. Most importantly an assurance that the Lord has given us is that Hannah is now in a better place. The second song, Fight Song, is a remembrance of Hannah’s fighting spirit. She was and is a princess warrior.

Video: Hannah-Celebration of Life

If you have trouble viewing this video on your browser you can view it by clicking on this YouTube link

We rejoice that death has been swallowed up in victory through the death and resurrection of Christ!

The Afterglow of an Outstanding Week!

This week we’ve been in the afterglow of the outstanding week of VBS outreach we had this last week in Ensenada. Part of what I enjoy is the amazing friends that God has given us to work with.

Skyview Church team and La Nueva Jerusalén church team

The group from Skyview led by Tim & Kari Berglund is a quality group of individuals who love Jesus and have a heart to serve him and learn about another culture. The group from Ensenada led by Petri & Yudy Petrikowski is equally amazing. We’ve grown to love and respect those that the Lord has given us the privilege of working alongside.

Apart from the relationships there are the new children and their families that experience the gospel, some of them for the first time. We are praying for the ongoing work of La Nueva Jerusalén as they seek to be an influence in their community. We are lifting the new church planting project called Renuevo that will be in the city center.

Jose Zunun in front the of the mission Gracia Eterna

This summer God gave us the opportunity to work with Jose Zunun, who is ministering in a poor community called Maneadero. Jose is working with a new mission called Gracia Eterna (Eternal Grace). Despite the fact that Jose began preparing for ministry without even an elementary school degree that he has persevered. He’s gone back to school and finished his high school degree, and he is now enrolled in a theological extension program.

Blown Away by God’s People

Dawn and I continue to be blown away by all the wonderful, godly people who the Lord connects us with as we serve here. Our prayer and desire is to see a movement of God’s Spirit so that His church will grow. Many new churches will be planted and many will come into the kingdom of God.

I put together a short video that highlighted our week of VBS in Ensenada. I think you will enjoy it!

Skyview – Nueva Jerusalén Summer VBS

Thank your for praying for us for this outreach, and God’s ongoing work in Ensenada and throughout the border and the Baja!

The children and teachers alike are saying that this is the best VBS yet. It’s been fun, and the children don’t want it to end! That is very encouraging.

Our ongoing prayer is that the Lord will use the VBS to reach children and their families for Christ. We pray that they will grow to love Jesus and his church.

Today (Friday) we will be holding the closing ceremony. It’s a celebration of all that God did during the week. Also, it gives the church a chance to love on and care for the parents as there will be a brief presentation for them as well. Wow! What a wonderful opportunity, and boy do we ever need prayer.

Petri will lead the ceremony and give the presentation to the parents. Here’s a short video that we’ve put together for the parents. The brief interviews are in Spanish, and I believe you will get the main gist of it. Next week I will post an English video of the VBS.

Video of VBS Highlights from Ensenada, Mexico

Thanks so much for praying. We know the Lord hears the prayers of his people!

One of the highlights of our ministry on the border and the Baja has been our medical clinics in Ensenada. God has used the partnership of Redeemer San Diego and La Nueva Jerusalén in Ensenada to touch the lives of many. It’s beautiful to see the love of Christ poured out through the doctors, dentists and all those that assist and make this outreach possible. We are using medicine to build bridges for the gospel as we show the love of Christ in a real and tangible way.

I put together a short video with the help of my son, David Jr. that will give you a glimpse of what we do on these missions trips.

May the gospel continue to go forth in power in Ensenada. May the Lord’s church extend it’s reach for the glory of God!